In combination,a plug and cylinder type lock mechanism and a key



April 14, l1970 y J. w. TAYLOR 3,505,842

IN COMBINATION, A PLUG AND CYLINDER TYPE LOCK MECHANISM AND A KEY Filed July 12, 1967 6 Sheets-#Sheet 1 M 4MM/T4944,

April 14, 1970 J. w. TAYLOR 3,505,84

. IN COMBINATION, A PLUG 4'AND CYLINDER TYPE v LOCK MECHANISM lAND A KEY Filed July 12. 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l April 14, 1970 .1. w. TAYLOR 3,505,842

IN COMBINATION, A PLUG"AND CYLINDER TYPE LOCK MECHANISM AND A KEY Filed July 12, 1967 e sheets-sheet :s v

15 l (3A l 50 l5 i Mx I 2s 27 April 14, 1970 J. TAYLOR 3,505,842

IN COMBINATION, A PLUG AND CYLINDER TYPE LOCK MECHANISM- AND A KEY Filed July 12. 1967 e sheets-sheet 4 .April 14, 1970 y J. w. TAYLOR 3,505,842 UG AND C INDER TYPE IN COMBINATION, A PL LOCK MECHANISM AND A Filed July 12, 1967 e sheets-sheet 5 mnu?,

m 12 so 56 /jf/ E515 1- 7 Aprxl 14, 19.70 J. w. TAYLOR IN COMBINATION, A PLUG AND CYLINDER TYPE LOCK MECHANISM AND A KEY 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 12, v1967 United States Patent O 3,505,842 IN CGMBINATION, A PLUG AND CYLINDER TYPE LOCK MECHANISM AND A KEY Jack William Taylor, Bournemouth, England, assignor to Venner Limited, New Malden, Surrey, England, a company of Great Britain Filed July 12, 1967, Ser. No. 652,757 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Aug. 30, 1966, 38,703/ 66 Int. Cl. E05b 27/02 U.S. 'Cl. 70--365 1 Claim ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSUREl A plug and cylinder type lock mechanism in which a key receiving plug is located in a cylinder and normally locked against rotation therein but unlocked as a result of insertion of a correct key, the stepped leading edge of which pushes a plurality of operating members to positions in which they allow movement of a latching member. The key and keyhole have correspondingly iluted profiles and the edges of the operating members to be contacted by the key are shaped to engage the key along the centre line of its thickness.

This invention relates to plug and cylinder type lock mechanisms intended for association with or forming part of a lock, such mechanism including a cylinder and a co-operating key receiving plug mounted for rotation therein through the medium of an inserted key, the plug being normally locked against rotary movement but unlocked as the result of insertion of the correct key to permit rotation of the plug and consequential movement of the parts comprising the lock.

In one aspect the present invention provides a plug and cylinder type lock mechanism comprising a cylinder, a plug mounted for rotation in the cylinder and having a hole for a key, and a plurality of displaceable operating members within the plug, each member normally being urged to a locked position and being movable independently of the other members to an unlocked position by means of a push from the leading edge of an instrument such as a key inserted in the keyhole.

Preferably the relative movement between the plug and the cylinder is prevented by engagement of a projection carried by or engaging with the cylinder, with an edge of one or more of the operating members, and each such edge is provided with a groove, the grooves being aligned by insertion of the correct key in the keyhole to accommodate the projection.

ln a preferred form the invention provides a plug and cylinder type lock mechanism comprising a cylinder, a key receiving plug mounted for rotation in the cylinder, a latch member movable between a latched position in which it prevents relative movement between the plug and the cylinder and an unlatched position in which it allows such relative movement, a plurality of operating members mounted in a tier in the plug so that each presents an edge to the keyhole, `means normally urging each operating member to a locked position in which it prevents movement of the latch member to its unlatched position, each operating member being mounted for movement to an unlocked position, in which it does not prevent movement of the latch member to its unlatched position, by means of a push on its edge presented to the keyhole.

The operating member may be pivotally mounted or may -be slidable parallel to the axis of the plug. The latch mechanism is normally prevented from movement to its unlatched position by engagement with an edge of one or more operating members and in its unlatched position is partly located in aligned grooves in the surfaces of the Patented Apr. 14, 1970 ICG operating members, the grooves being aligned by insertion of the correct key.

Embodiments of lock mechanisms, in accordance with the invention, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is an axial section through a lock mechanism, in its locked position,

FIGURE 2 is an axial section through the lock mechanism of FIGURE 1 in its unlocked position,

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the lock mechanism,

FIGURE 4 is an axial section normal to the section of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 is a part axial section normal to the section of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 6 is a section normal to the axis showing the arrangement of operating levers,

FIGURE 7 is a section normal to the axis showing the arrangement of the latching talon,

FIGURE 8 is an axial view of the plug only of the mechanism,

FIGURE 9 is an axial view normal to that of FIGURE 8 of the plug only,

FIGURE l0 is a view of a key for the lock mechanism,

FIGURES 11 and 12 show a side view and a plan view on an alternative latching talon,

FIGURES 13, 14 and 15 show side views of various Operating levers,

FIGURE 16 is an axial section through an alternative embodiment of lock mechanism in its locked position,

FIGURE 17 is a Iview corresponding to that of FIGURE 16 showing the mechanism in its unlocked position,

FIGURE 18 is a section on the line XVIII-XVIII of FIGURE 17,

FIGURE 19 is an axial section of a further embodiment of lock mechanism in its locked position,

FIGURE 20 is a view corresponding to that of FIG- URE 19 showing the mechanism in its unlocked position, and

' FIGURE 21 is a section on the line XXI-XXI of FIG- URE 20.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 to 9, a cylinder 12 has an integral front end cap 13, having an inwardly turned annular flange 14. A plug is inserted into the bore of the cylinder to be rotatable therein and retained in place by a coaxial annular locking plate 16 and screwed ring 17 the threads of which engage with the internally threaded bore at the rear end of the cylinder. Alternatively, the rear end of the cylinder may be formed with an integral inturned flange and the front cap be removable to allow insertion of the plug. The plug 15 is formed with a slot 18, a further slot of reduced width opening from the base of this slot, and a -bore 21 opening from the base of the slot 20. The front end of the plug is covered by a front cap 22 and the rear end 23 is of reduced diameter to extend through the locking plate. The rear part of one end of the slot 18 is closed by a retainer plate 24 having projections engaging in slots 25 in the plug to prevent independent movement of the retainer plate. Holes 26, 27 are formed in the plug at the sides of the slots 18, 20 respectively for receiving pivot rods. The front cap 22 and one side of the plug dene an elongate keyhole 28 diametrically of the plug, the flange 14 of the cylinder cap being formed with a groove 30 aligned with the outer end of the keyhole in the locked position. The keyhole does not have plane parallel sides but is of iluted prole to have a number of steps 31 in its sides.

Six operating levers 32 are mounted in a tier in the slot 18 for rotation independently of one another about a common lever pivot rod 33 supported in the holes 26 to extend normal to the axis 34 of the plug and cylinder,

eccentric to that axis and substantially parallel to the keyhole plane. The planes of the operating levers extend substantially normal to the keyhole plane so that each presents a convexly curved front edge 35 to the keyhole. Each operating lever has a spring 36, one end of which is secured around the pivot rod 33 and the other end of which is secured to the retainer plate 24, the spring being located in a slot in the operating lever and acting to urge the lever towards a locked position adjacent the keyhole. The upper edge 37 of each operating lever is cam shaped and at its rear edge is Iprovided with a projection 38; this edge is also provided with a groove 40, the grooves v40 of at least some of the levers being at different distances from the front edges 35 as shown in broken line in FIGURE l.

A latching talon 41 is pivotally mounted on a pivot rod 42 parallel to rod 33 and supported in the holes 27. A spring 42A has one end located in the hole 21, passes round the rod 42 in a slot in the talon and its other end engages the back `43 of the talon to urge it away from the keyhole to a latched position in which its back face is located in a cam shaped recess 44 in the locking plate 16. The front of the talon is formed with a forwardly projecting arm 45 engaging the projections 38 on the operating levers and having its front surface adjacent the edge 37 of the operating levers in their locked positions.

As shown in FIGURE 10, the key 39 is formed with a side edge 46 and a leading edge 47 having six steps arranged to engage respective ones of the operating levers, at least some of the steps having their surfaces at different distances from the rounded leading surface 48 of the side edge 46. The distances of the grooves 40 in the operating levers from their front edges 35 is proportional to the distances of the surfaces r47 of the steps from the surface 48.

In the locked position of the mechanism, the plug is prevented from rotation in the cylinder by engagement of the latching talon 41 in the recess 44, and the latching talon is prevented from moving from this latched position by engagement of the arm 45 with the edges 37 of one or more of the operating levers. When the correct key is inserted in the keyhole, the stepped leading edge 47 off the key contacts the front edges of the levers and moves them by means of a push, as opposed to a lift, against the action of springs 36 to an unlocked position in which all the grooves 40 are aligned in a position to receive the arm 45 as shown in FIGURE 2. Rotational movement of the plug by means of the key urges the talon forward to its unlatched position in which the arm 45 is located in the grooves 40 through the interaction of the cam surface of the recess 44 engaging on the back of the talon against the action of spring 42A. When the arm 45 of the talon is engaged in the grooves, the back of the talon is in sliding contact with the plane front face of the locking plate so that the plug can be rotated in either direction in the cylinder. If one of the stepson the key is of the wrong depth for the position of the notch on its associated operating lever, the grooves will not be in alignment in the correct position and the talon cannot be unlatched. Different lock combinations are of course provided -by varying the depth and arrangement of the steps and notches. The side 46 of the key engages in the edge 50 of the keyhole and through the groove 30 in the cylinder cap, and restricts sideways and lengthwise movement of the key, the opposite side edge 51 is plane. The side 46 also engages in a slot 49 in the side of the plug, the base 49A of this slot determining how far they can be inserted. The side 46 is formed with a groove 52 for reception of the cylinder flange 14 when the key is rotated. The engagement of the edges of this groove with the flange 14 prevents the key from being withdrawn except in the locked position of the mechanism. The key is of fluted profile corresponding to the keyhole. An alternative latching talen arrangement is shown in FIGURES 1l and 12 in which a ball 53 engages the back surface of the talon and engages in the recess 44 in the locking plate, the mechanism otherwise being the same as that illustrated before.

Owing to the profiled form of the fluted key and keyhole the parts of the key contacting the front edges 35 of the operating levers are not all in the same plane, as shown in FIGURES 3, 13 and 14: the levers actuated by key steps on centre thickness line Z will have less angular movement per amount of key movement than levers actuated by key steps on centre thickness line Y. This is unsatisfactory due to the contact of the key on certain levers being made on the corner of the step resulting in wear and loss of lever movement. To eliminate this two different levers having different shaped edges 35 are used, those shown in FIGURE 13 for co-operation with steps on centre line Z of the key and those shown in FIGURE 14 for co-operation with steps on centre line Y of the key, so that all levers will have contact with the key steps on or near the centre thickness line of those steps. An alternative design of lever incorporating these two types is shown in FIGURE 15.

Referring now to FIGURES 16-18, the plug and cylinder and levers and talon of this arrangement are generally similar to those already described and will be given the same reference number, so that like parts will not be redescribed. In this embodiment the flange 14 of the cylinder is of greater depth and on its inside surface is formed with a recess 54 for reception of a projection 55 extending forwardly from the integral front cap of the plug. Location of the projection 55 in the recess prevents relative rotation of the plug and cylinder. The back end of the bore of the cylinder is threaded as before and has a screwed ring 56 secured therein for receiving the end 23 of the plug, the ring having an inwardly turned annular flange 57. A compression spring 58 around the part 23 of the plug acts between the flange 57 and the plug to urge the plug axially forwards to retain the projection 55 in the recess 54. The back face 43 of the latching talon 41 is urged by spring 42A into engagement with the front face 60 of the screwed ring. In the locked positions of the operating levers 32 the talon is prevented from forward pivoting movement by engagement of its arm `45 with the edges 37 of the operating levers, and as long as the talon cannot be pivoted forwards the plug cannot be moved axially in the cylinder. On insertion of the correct key, the levers are pivoted as before to a position in which their grooves 40 are aligned to receive the arm 45; in this position, a further push on the key pushes the plug axially in the cylinder forcing the arm 45 into the grooves until the projection 55 is clear of the flange 14 and the plug can be rotated in the cylinder.

A further alternative arrangement is shown in FIG- URES 19 to 2l. A cylinder 61, generally similar to the cylinder 12 has a cam shaped recess 62 in its inner surface. A plug 63, generally similar to the plug 15 is located in the cylinder for rotational movement therein and has a back reduced diameter portion 64 extending through a screwed ring `65 by which the plug is retained in the cylinder. A plurality of operating sliders 66 are arranged in a tier in a slot 67 in the plug each to present a front edge 68 to the keyhole 69, and slidable parallel to the axis of the plug. A spring 70 is associated with each slider, each spring is turned around a common pivot rod 71 mounted in the plug and has one end bearing against the base of the plug and its other end bearing against the back of its associated slider to urge it towards the keyhole. Each slider has a groove 72 in its upper surface 73, the function and positioning of the grooves 72 corresponding to those of the grooves 40. A latching talon 74 is pivotally mounted on a rod 75 supported in the plug, and has a rounded back face '76 on its head 77 which in the latched position engages in the recess 62 preventing rotational movement between the plug and cylinder.

A spring 78 has one end bearing against the back of the plug, passes round the rod 75 in a slot in the talon and has its other end bearing against the inner surface of the talon to urge the talon to its latched position.

The talon is prevented from moving out of its latched position by engagement of a forwardly projecting arm 80 with the surfaces 73 of one or more of the sliders. As in the previous embodiments insertion of the correct key 39 in the keyhole 69 pushes the sliders to a position in which the grooves 72 are aligned where they can receive the arm 80. Rotational movement of the plug causes the cam surface of recess 62 to move the talon until the arm is engaged in the aligned grooves after which further rotational: movement of the plug can be performed.

The plug may be made as a pressure die casting in such material as zinc base alloy or as a moulding in nylon or other suitable material. As an alternative the plug may be machined from bar material. Each operating lever or slider may have an arcuate projection from one face and an arcuate groove on the other face, the projection on one lever or slider engaging the groove in the adjacent lever or slider when assembled in the plug to prevent access to the grooves by an instrument inserted down the keyhole and between the levers. Preferably one or more levers or sliders will have one or more false grooves having a depth insuicient to permit, rotation of the plug, should the talon be caused to enter the false notches during attemped means of unauthorised operation. More than one proper groove may be provided in each lever or slider to enable the mechanism to be operated by a master key in addition to its own key. The radius of the levers on the edgeA into lwhich the grooves are cut may be arranged from a centre eccentric to the centre of the pivot of the levers.

The cylinder may be formed as part of, or directly attached to, a lock or a handle or other locking or operating device.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination of plug and cylinder type lock mechanism and a key, the lock mechanism comprising a cylinder, a plug mounted for rotation in the cylinder and defining a keyhole for reception of the key, a locking plate co-axial with lthe plug and held against rotation relative to the cylinder, a cam surface on the locking plate which surface faces the keyhole and is formed with a curved recess, a latch member including a ball arranged to roll on the cam surface and movable between a latch position it which it prevents relative movement between the plug and the cylinder and an unlatched position in which it allows such relative movement, a plurality of operating members mounted in a tier in the plug each having a convexly curved edge presented to the keyhole, biasing means normally urging each of the operating members to a locked position in which it prevents movement of the latch member to its unlatched position, each operating member being pivotable about a rst axis independently of the other operating members to an unlocked position in which it does not prevent movement of the latch member to its unlatched position by means of a push on its contact edge from the leading edge of the key, the key having a stepped leading edge each step of -which is associated with one operating member, the key and keyhole having correspondingly fluted profiles and the contact edges being shaped in dependence on the lluted profile such that each contact edge engages the key substantially along the centre line of its thickness.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,455,138 5/1923 Habenicht 70-365 212,908 3/ 1879 Dinner 70-365 671,326 4/1901 Soley 70-365 2,097,188 10/1937 Jacobi 70-417 2,803,959 8/ 1957 Schlage 70-420 3,367,155 2/ 1968 Kobrehel 70-366 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner R. L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner Us. c1. X.R. -453 

